Okpebholo
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The Edo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on Wednesday threw out a petition instituted against them by the Action Alliance (AA) and one Adekunle Rufai Omoaje against the declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo as winner of winners of the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State.
The Tribunal threw out the petition on the grounds that it lacked merit, describing as frivolous.
It held that Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, who filed the joint petition, had no locus standi to institute the case, as his petition was not based on election-related matters.
The Tribunal further held that Omoaje did not participate in the governorship election and, so, did not have power to question its validity.
According to the Tribunal, Omoaje’s grievance against the election was his on-recognition as the National Chairman of the Action Alliance for the purpose of nominating candidates for the poll, noting , however, that his claims had no basis in the Electoral Act of 2022.
Omoaje had petitioned the Tribunal, seeking to upturn the declaration of Okpebholo and APC as winners of the election, contending that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, acted illegally, unlawfully, unconditionally. He added that their action was null and void due to non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
He also alleged corruption and that Okpebholo and APC did not win the majority of lawful votes in the election, and that AA was not allowed to nominate a lawful governorship candidate for the election, having not signed the nomination form as the National Chairman of the party.
